TORONTO, June 18, 2018 /CNW/ - RBC is pleased to announce the release of the newest edition of A Chosen Journey: RBC Indigenous Partnership report. Celebrating its tenth anniversary, the report highlights a diverse range of success stories from within Indigenous communities across Canada, from community programs and entrepreneurial initiatives, to skills development and new employment opportunities.
The report was launched by RBC in 2008 in response to a challenge by the Assembly of First Nations to corporate Canada to partner with Indigenous communities. A Chosen Journey has been issued annually since, highlighting the many successful collaborations that continue to grow between Indigenous peoples and RBC.
"In this report, we are reaffirming our commitment to Indigenous societies by putting action into reconciliation, helping to remove systemic barriers and support success for Indigenous people and communities," said Dale Sturges, National Director, Indigenous Financial Services Group, RBC. "This report represents just a handful of the many projects and initiatives in a number of areas, including access to financial services, community and social development, employment and education, and procurement."
Through a broad and diverse spectrum of stories showcasing individual and community efforts, this year's report highlights inspiring individuals and notable projects that are having a positive impact such as:
- BC's remote Xeni Gwet'in First Nation community's remarkable quest to transition from diesel generation to solar energy to reduce their environmental footprint and secure a consistent power supply in a remote region. This RBC-supported project delivered $50,000 in annual savings, which are now being invested in improving the local economy, including the building and operation of greenhouses.
- Entrepreneur Wilf Wilcox in Cambridge Bay, Nunavut, who runs a successful plumbing, heating and electrical contracting company, and his mission to encourage apprenticeships for a young Inuit population and create employment opportunities for youth and economic investment.
- How Port Alberni, BC's Uchuklesaht Tribe worked with local talent to build permanent government offices to bring together multiple local communities and provide much needed affordable housing.
The report also includes RBC-spearheaded initiatives that have been specifically designed to support Indigenous communities and individuals, such as:
- The RBC Indigenous Talent Development Program, a two-year initiative launched this year to help promising individuals build capabilities in finance.
- RBC Global Procurement's efforts to foster a more inclusive supply chain. The report offers a glimpse into RBC's work through a recent partnership with Innovana Solutions, an Indigenous women-owned company focused on developing Indigenous tech talent and championing entrepreneurship.
- RBC's efforts to promote cross-cultural understanding through a program designed and developed by employees—where employees make declarative statements on how they will take action to learn more about Indigenous histories, cultures, and peoples.
- RBC Blue Water Project's $200,000 gift to the Centre for Indigenous Environmental Resources, which is now helping 300 First Nations groups across Canada to resolve environmental challenges from within their communities.
Other stories focus on younger generation RBC employees and award recipients committed to promoting the principles of diversity and inclusion in the workplace and academia. For example, 27-year-old RBC Law Group articling student, Caitlin Tolley, recently received an Emerging Leaders Award from the Public Policy Forum for her work as an advocate for Indigenous people. Dylan Allary, a Métis Nation citizen, was RBC's first hire out of the Indigenous Talent Development Program. Michael Polak, a member of RBC's Global Diversity & Inclusion Group, talks about his participation with RBC's latest Diversathon.
"Indigenous groups and individuals have achieved some remarkable successes in helping their communities and businesses," Sturges said. "We are proud to be playing a role in supporting the tremendous work of talented people who are committed to improving the social, economic and physical well-being of their communities."
The complete set of success stories can be found by clicking on A Chosen Journey: RBC Indigenous Partnership Report at rbc.com/achosenjourney.
About RBC Indigenous Financial Services Group
For more than 100 years, RBC has been building strong relationships with First Nations, Inuit and Métis communities across Canada. We are committed to serving Indigenous governments, communities, organizations, businesses and individuals by creating opportunities for sustainable economic development through access to banking and capital, community and social development, employment, education and training and procurement. RBC also provides donations and grants that support Indigenous interests. More information is available at rbcroyalbank.com/aboriginal.
SOURCE RBC Royal Bank
Media contact: Jeff Lanthier, RBC Corporate Communications, 416-903-7388, [email protected]
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